Monday, November 15, 2010

On Saturday, October 9th from 11:30 a.m. to noon Pacific time, I was interviewed by host Bill Martinez of the Bill Martinez Live radio program, broadcast on 740 AM KBRITE stations in the Los Angeles, California area. During the second half hour of his one hour live show, we talked about how the Internet has revolutionized how Christ is fulfilling the Great Commission in reaching the outermost parts of the world with the Good News of Jesus Christ. We also discussed how you, too, can become a Web Minister, sharing the Gospel online.

Want to be a missionary but can't travel? Listen to this interview to learn how the Internet has revolutionized how the Gospel is being shared to the outermost parts of the earth in these last days and how you can be part of it!

(My apologies for not having a writtentranscript of this interview available.)

Other tools for ministry potential are Facebook, Blogger, or Word Press. These applications will not cost you a dime and allow you to reach several audiences. Of couse neither one of these are salaried positions either, the rewards are no less greater. Freely we have received, freely we must give.

Women make excellent Web Ministers, being statistically on the Internet chatting more than men. I don't think Paul's guidelines apply here because it's not a church setting and it's more edifying conversation than preaching/teaching, Diane.

Thank you Nathan. I listened to this message on my I-pod the other day and it was a blessing. I recently started a blogg on Blogger with the purpose of sharing the message of Jesus on the internet. I am praying and still trying to find my way on this internet ministry. It is an inspiration to know the Lord may use my site to bring the Word of God to others. So I must keep plugging away.

Nathan, truth is, that when you are called to be minister, regardless of the venue, we are called to serve. We all have been fortunate to have specific talents and gifts provided by the Holy Spirit. Their are times when our occupation can also be used to minister to others in service of the Lord, yet this should be done without payment.

Preaching the Word of God is no occupation, it is a calling that requires great sacrifice at times yet is filled with great reward. The task is evangelism, the reaching of lost souls for Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Is this not reward enough? We were bought with a price, our time is his time, our talents belong to him, all that we are belongs to the Lord.

Perhaps your talent as a web designer is your secular occupation and you receive payment for this. Yet when doing things in the service of the Lord we should offer ourselves freely, and our reward will be provided in Heaven. If we seek payment for our calling and service for the Lord we already have our reward. Nathan I am not attacking you my friend, I am attempting to minister to you as you have ministered to many.

I knew I could count on you Rodney. Sounds like you agree with a deist relative of mine who believes ministers are just parasites on society.

A missionary is a "sent one," one who is the physical presence representing a whole team in the mission field, whether local, national or international. The team enables that person to focus on what they all are trying to accomplish - the spread of the Gospel. They enable that representative to be unecumbered so that they can focus on witnessing, and therefore produce more fruit.

Anyway, your view isn't biblical. Read what Paul said in 1 Cor. 9:14, "In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel." Did Jesus do carpentry work during His ministry? Was Peter out fishing to make a living... while in landlocked Jerusalem? No, the Bible is pretty clear this is a God-ordained concept, and will be rewarded just as much in Heaven by special crowns of rejoicing and glory.

Nathan, I have heard many verses used to substantiate paid ministry positions yet they also avoid the admonition of the Apostle Paul to not receive payment lest you become a bondservant of men and not God.

Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves and example unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed-2 Thessalonians 3:7-11,14.

The Apostles worked with their hands and did preach the Gospel in these same communities that they did visit as an example to all those that would follow them. These were not men who would work an hour a day pumping out preformatted sermons or articles from years past. They earned their wages by the sweat of their brow.